Seven
(or more) Habits for
Successful Counciling
December
2008 | Dave Druker, retiring
City Council Member

The
following snippets are
some of the ways I
approached being a
member of the Del
Mar City Council.
None of these are
original, but it is
almost impossible
for me to determine
the origins of these
homilies.

Be
reasonable – unfortunately
like pulchritude,
reasonableness is
in the eye of the
beholder. So, follow
the rest of these
rules.

Be
tough on
the problem and easy
on the person.
Not
all problems are solvable
nor should every problem
be solved – so
pick your challenges/opportunities.

To
solve a problem determine
what the objectives
for the solution are and
the criteria for determining
that the problem will
be solved.
When
most people speak, even
if you disagree with
them, there may be a
kernel of truth in what
they have to say. So
don’t
dismiss everything someone
has to say, even if
you disagree with most
of their arguments.

Don’t
get in front of the
parade unless
there are people behind
you.

Don’t
argue with
a person who buys
ink by the barrel.

Learn
to count to three. You
only need three votes
to get something passed
by the council. If
someone on the council
vehemently disagrees
with the majority,
debating for debating’s
sake is counter-productive.

Read
your packet.

Ask
questions of
staff even if the
staff report is obvious – you
are representing the
people, and the people
may not have read
the report and will
not have the same
understanding that
you and the staff
have.

At
regional agencies – read
your packet, ask questions
and show
up. Being
at the meetings is over
60% of the battle.

At
regional agencies, what
is best for Del Mar
is probably best for
the region.

Don’t
try and be the smartest
person in
the room; be the best
listener. Your job
is to represent the
people.

You
will make mistakes. Admit
the mistake and apologize.

Planning
issues should
not be determined
by legal threats.

Finally,
in government, process
is more important than
final results. If
the process is incorrect,
the results will be
seen by many as flawed.
A good process will
usually create a good
result. The process
always needs to include
as much public discussion
as possible and decisions
being made in open sessions.

Good
luck to new Members,
Don and Mark. I hope
that you will find the
experience on the council
as fulfilling as I did.
Thank you to the residents
of Del Mar for giving
me the honor and privilege
of serving you for the
past twelve years and
seven months.